Enjoy our free Wild Atlantic Way travel guide, route map and GPS info for this scenic coastal drive, walk or cycle along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coastline.  This signposted route stretches 2,750 km (1,700 miles) along the remote winding west coast of Ireland from Kinsale in Co. Cork in the south to Co. Donegal in the north where it connects to the Causeway Coastal Drive and onto Belfast. Use our guide below to plan and book your perfect holiday itinerary.

The overall route map including discovery points is shown below and scroll down to the end of the page to see our google route map, directions and to download the GPS route. You can also view and follow the Wild Atlantic Way route on our Free ActiveMe App on iPhone and Android now. Photos by the great Valerie O'Sullivan, Photographer with ActiveMe.

The beautiful seascapes of the Wild Atlantic Way route charts the rich diversity of the precarious and intriguing Atlantic seaboard at the edge of Western Europe. The Atlantic coastline has intrigued and mystified visitors who leave in wonder of how the sea has defined and shaped Ireland and its people for over 10,000 years. From seeing this coastline for the very last time as emigrants left Ireland for a new life in the US in the 1800's to viking raids on the Skellig Islands in 823 AD, the Wild Atlantic Way can tell some of the best stories and provide some the best holiday experiences in the world. Photo: Valentia Island Lighthouse during an Atlantic storm, Co. Kerry by Valerie O'Sullivan.

To tell the story of the Wild Atlantic Way and it’s people who carved out a living on the coast, you must look at everything from coastal villages, fishing, collecting seaweed, swimming, awarding winning artisan foods, cliff top ancient forts, sport, harvesting the sea, folklore, seafood restaurants, pirates, kayaking, heritage sites, ferry boats to the islands, adventurers, artists, crab fishing, surfers, emmigration, remote island monasteries, story tellers, vikings, boat trips, seaside towns, high kings, Islanders, sailing, colourful seaside cottages, mythology, windswept lighthouses to uninhabited islands. All these experiences serve as a rite of passage on the Wild Atlantic Way. With over 180 key discovery points along the route to visit, don't forget to get out of the car, talk to the locals and find the hiddens gems which will make your holiday a life changing experience.

The Wild Atlantic Way can be enjoyed over a few 'very fast' days to several weeks, with 1,000's of attractions, scenic views, heritage sites and activities including walking, cycling, kayaking, surfing, fishing and more, over 50 Blue Flag beaches, nearly 20 long distance walks, over 120 Golf courses and over 500 festivals and events to enjoy during each year.

Below are a number of suggested itineraries for each county which you can use to plan and book your holiday in Ireland and if you need to rent a car to experience the Wild Atlantic Way then visit www.carhire.ie. If you find a better price elsewhere Carhire.ie will beat it.

Wild Atlantic Way Route Maps and Guides by County 

The following are detailed route maps and guides for each county on the Wild Atlantic Way.

1. Cork – Route Map and Guide:
2. Kerry – Route Map and Guide:
3. Clare – Route Map and Guide:
4. Galway – Route Map and Guide
5. Mayo – Route Map and Guide 
6. Sligo and Leitrim – Route Map and Guide (coming soon)
7. Donegal – Route Map and Guide (coming soon)

These county by county route guides contain more accommodation options, attractions, photos and hidden gems to help you plan and book your ideal holiday itinerary in greater detail.

Photo: Take the unique boat trip to the Skellig Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site and bird colony, Co. Kerry and now a Star Wars film location by Valerie O'Sullivan. Below is a list of the top attractions, things to see and do, accommodation and more for each county along the entire Wild Atlantic Way. Many more attractions, photos and hidden gems are contained in our detailed guides for each County above.

CORK Route

Ideally you need a full week or more to explore Cork's Wild Atlantic Way coastline from Kinsale to Kenmare in Co. Kerry but if you have less time available on your holiday, you can pick and choose from the suggested itinerary below or see a larger list top Attractions and Things to See and Do on the detailed Cork guide here:

1. Kinsale - Town Centre, Charles Fort, James Fort and Beach
2. Old Head of Kinsale – Walks, Views and Golf
3. Garretstown Beach – Surfing, swimming and walks
4. Seven Heads Peninsula - Walks and Views
5. Inchydoney Beach – Walks and Surfing
6. Galley Head – Views and Fort
7. Toe Head – Lighthouse and Fort
8. Lough Hyne – guided night swimming with bioluminescent algae
9. Sea Kayaking in the Atlantic
10. Baltimore – Barbary Pirates and Whale Watching
11. Ferry trip to Sherkin and Cape Clear Island
12. Mizen Head and Barleycove Beach
13. Sheeps Head Way Walking Trail and scenery
14. Seefin Mountain and Viewpoint – Myth and Legend
15. Whiddy and Garnish Island
16. Beara Way Walking and Cycling Trail
17. Hungry Hill Walk
18. Bere Island
19. Dursey Island and Cable Car
20. Kenmare Bay Views, Gleninchaquin and Bonane

Photo: Mizen Head, Cork by Valerie O'Sullivan

Great Places to Stay along the Route (coming soon)

• Kinsale
• Clonakilty
• Skibbereen
• Mizen Head
• Sheeps Head
• Bantry
• Glengarriff
• Beara Peninsula
• Kenmare
• Other Places to stay on the detailed guide

Special Places to Eat and Drink along the Cork route (coming soon)

• Kinsale
• Clonakilty
• Skibbereen
• Mizen Head
• Sheeps Head
• Bantry
• Glengarriff
• Beara Peninsula
• Kenmare

KERRY

7. The Kerry Way walking trail (130km) – the world’s best long hike
8. Skellig Islands boat trip
9. Valentia Island – Bray Head, Culoo, Tetrapod Fossils, Fogher Cliffs and Beginish Island
10. Cahergal, Leacanabuaile, Staigue and Loher Ancient Stone Forts
11. Beaches Derrynane, Ballinskelligs, Glanleam, Rossbeigh, Inch, Banna and Ballybunnion
12. MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountains and Irelands highest Mtn. Corrán Tuathail (1,039m)
13. Killarney National Park, Muckross, Gap of Dunloe and Torc Waterfall
14. Dingle town, Fungi the Dolphin, Basket Islands, Mt. Brandon and Dingle Way Walk
15. Tralee Beaches, Rose of Tralee, Aquadome, Playdium, Wetlands Centre - family friendly

Photo: Hogs Head, Kerry by Valerie O'Sullivan

CLARE

16. Kilrush – See Dolphins in the Shannon
17. Loop Head and Kilkee Beach – Snorkel the Pollock Holes natural swimming pool
18. Cliffs of Moher, Coastal Walk and The Burren
19. Doolin Ferry to the Aran Islands and Doolin Cave
20. Lahinch Beach and Surfing

Photo: Cliffs Of Moher

GALWAY

21. Dunguaire Castle and Kinvarra
22. Spanish Arch and Galway City
23. Salthill Promenade and Carraroe Beach
24. Ferry to the Aran Islands
25. Derroura Mountain Bike Trails
26. Killary Harbour
27. Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey

Photo: Dun Aengus Fort, Aran Islands

 MAYO

28. Clare Island and Clew Bay
29. Croagh Patrick Mountain
30. Keem Strand
31. Achill Island
32. Greenway Walking and Cycling Route
33. Ceide Fields

Photo: Clew Bay from Croagh Patrick Mountain, Co. Mayo

 SLIGO and LEITRIM

34. Mullaghmore Head, Beach and Surfing
35. Queen Meaves Tomb and Benbulben Mountain

Photo: Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo by Valerie O'Sullivan

 DONEGAL

36. Bundoran Beach and Surfing
37. Sliabh League Cliffs
38. Tory Island
39. Fanad Head and Ards Forest Park
40. Inishowen Peninsula, Malin Head and Five Fingers Strand

Photo: Dunree Strand: Co. Donegal

Check out the most recent Failte Ireland video for the Wild Atlantic Way.

In Seamus Heaney’s (1939 –2013) poem ‘Lovers on Aran’ he poses the question ‘Did sea define the land or land the sea?’ The Wild Atlantic coastline has intrigued and mystified visitors to Ireland and helped shape the people of the west of Ireland. Fishing, collecting seaweed, artisan foods, kayaking, swimming, walking, cycling, snorkelling, diving, adventuring, artists, story tellers, seaside towns, blue flag beaches, camping, myth and legend, folklore, islands, cottages and windswept lighthouses. The Wild Atlantic Way has everything you’ll need in a holiday and more.

From cliff top views to great hikes and from historic cities to picture perfect coastal villages and some of the best surfing in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way drive caters for visitors of all ages and tastes. Slow down, meet the people and experience the real Ireland.

Wild Atlantic Way Facts

- The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest signed coastal route in the world at 2,750 km (1,700 miles) in length with plenty side routes, loops and activities.

- the Wild Atlantic Way travels the entire west coast from the picturesque town of Kinsale in Cork through counties Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and ends in Donegal

- join the Wild Atlantic Way at any number of points along its length, complete it in either direction and enjoy the many shorter side loops and dozens of attractions and activities

- A map of the Wild Atlantic Way is shown below and you can also download the gpx file (GPS) for your cars Sat Nav or follow it using GPS on our FREE Travel Guide App called ActiveMe Ireland on iPhone and Android App

- The Wild Atlantic Way provides visitors with stunning scenery at every turn and letting them experience the wild nature of Irelands Atlantic shore be it glorious sunshine or the even more impressive huge Atlantic swells battering the coast during bad weather.